The Waterfowl Program annually monitors the waterfowl breeding population in California for conservation and to establish hunting frameworks within the Pacific Flyway, 1992-2022.

Data are collected from both a fixed-wing and helicopter with 2 observers in each. The survey is conducted about the third week in April in the Central Valley and second week in May in NE CA. The state is divided into 9 strata for sampling with transects/segments in each stratum. Species, sex, and breeding status collected. Survey has been conducted since 1955 however a revised survey was developed in 1992 and continues annually. The project is funded by Pittman-Roberston Grant and State Duck Stamp funds.

This data and metadata were submitted by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Staff though the Data Management Plan (DMP) framework with the id: DMP000455. For more information, please visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/Sci-Data.